WARNING: This blog post contains spoilers about the most recent episodes of So You Think You Can Dance. Don't read it unless you're caught up on the results standings.
One of the things I love about the show So You Think You Can Dance is watching true talent in action. For example, check out the versatility of my favorite couple Janette and Brandon. Despite being completely different types of dances and neither of the dancer's specialties, I thought they nailed the two numbers they were asked to perform this past week.
First there was an Argentine Tango:
Then later they followed it up by playing a pair of cat burglars in a really fun jazz routine by choreographer Wade Robson:
What I don't like about this season of the show is the obvious attempt at manipulating voters the producers are doing, not for artistic reasons, but because they want certain dancers to make it to the Final 10. For those of you that don't know, the Final 10 go on tour, and obviously the producers want dancers who have big fan bases to make it so that the tour will sell more tickets. I know that the judges have done this in years past, but it has never seemed so blatant as this year primarily because of one certain dancer.
Phillip Chbeeb is a hip-hop dancer and has no formal training. He is amazing to watch when he performs in his own style, but let's be honest: he has sucked at the other styles of dance he's performed. In a deliberate move to help him, Phillip and his partner have seemed to perform hip-hop more than they should have if they were "randomly" drawing the styles of dance. In fact, at least one of the times he and his partner Jeanine performed hip-hop, the show made no mention of the couple randomly drawing the style of dance like they usually do. On those occasions where Phillip had to perform other dance genres, the judges overlooked an incredible amount of clumsy footwork and poor technique that they normally tear other dancers apart for. This was extremely evident to me in their critique of his jive dance this week. Compared to jive routines we've see in the past on the show, he was absolutely horrendous.
Interestingly enough, I tried to find the video of this jive routine online to include in this post but wasn't able to. It seems that Fox issued take-down notices to the few copies that existed. Isn't it strange that they would demand that dance be taken down whereas they seem to have no problem allowing Phillip's much better hip-hop routines to stay on YouTube?
Did you also notice how upset judge Nigel Lythgoe got at the choreographers for giving Phillip and Jeanine such a horrible Russian folk routine? I am willing to bet that it was because after watching this disaster, he knew that there was no way the couple would stay out of the bottom three. I mean, come on, who's going to pick up the phone and vote for this?
When Phillip did end up in the bottom three and judges had little choice but to eliminate him, Nigel and the other producers made special arrangements for Phillip (and Caitlin, the other dance eliminated and another favorite of Nigel's) to go the tour with Final 10. Yay! Everybody's happy, right? Not really. How is this fair to those dancers who earned their spots in the Final 10? This just reinforced my theory that the producers were giving special treatment to Phillip to get him into the Final 10 so he'd be on tour. When that didn't happen, they took him anyway.
I know that So You Think You Can Dance (like American Idol and the other talent shows of this ilk) is first and foremost a TV show designed to make the producers lot of money. I'm not naive about the idea that certain performers are chosen over others not because of their talent, but because they make for better television. What I'm pissed off about is that they still try to pretend this is strictly a talent competition and the judges' critiques are based strictly on dancing ability. As a member of the television audience, I'm insulted. This season the producer's manipulation actually got in the way of the competition itself and ruined a show I used to love.
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Comments
This show is the most likely to creating insurmountable problems for the dancers because they are so dependent on the choreography, the dance choices, the partner choices, then the judging, then the public.
I remember that exquisite dancer from the first season, who easily could have won. She got the boot along with her lousy partner, when they kicked couples off.
And Nigel's upsetness was a shock, because I know that the judges are pressured to praise the choreography no matter how bizarre or bad it is.
Good post! Rated.
And I can only hope they are having conversations with some of the choreographers this year! I disagree tho that Nigel and the other judges might soft pedal them...after all this is a huge showcase for the choreographers.
I think they are careful to promote the show as "America's Favorite Dancer" as opposed to "Best" specifically for the reasons you mention. In that way, I give the producers at least a little bit of credit.
I completely agree with your assessment, but I think it is the penalty we pay for succumbing to this reality television approach to programming. It’s deceptive, it’s unfair, it’s misleading, it’s dishonest … and admittedly very entertaining. The only option is to turn the channel.
Great post BTW.
The judges couldn't eliminate Phillip because he hasn't been in the bottom three up until two weeks ago. His solo was brilliant and he was up against two dancers, Vitollio, and Kupono, who have both been in the bottom three more than he has. It would have been seen as incredibly manipulative for the judges to take him off then. But they took him off the first chance they could.
So don't blame the judges for Phillip. Blame the twelve year old girl audience.
If the judges have been manipulative about anyone, I think, it's Kupono. He really did not deserve to stay over Vitolio. They just didn't want to put Kayla through another partner change.
What can I say? It is my not very secret passion. I am amazed by dancing and we have seen some very talented folks up there this season.
Yes, there is most assuredly some manipulation going on regarding the assignment of the dance styles. Phillip got hip-hop twice in five weeks, and he also got the normally huge crowd-pleaser jive.
Then as you pointed out, Melissa and Ade got the Melissa and Ade.
As to your earlier comment that this past week was the first week that the judges could realistically get rid of Phillip, I feel he should have gone the first week he landed in the bottom three.
How the judges manipulate it though is by not criticizing a routine that fully deserves to be criticized such as several of Phillip's dances. His jive was quite bad, yet the judges praised him for it overall. Why? If Evan would have danced that, they would have tore him to shreds? I know it wasn't Phillip's own style, but that hasn't stopped the judges before.
By praising a routine that doesn't deserve the praise and overlooking the flaws, they help win it votes. Let's face it. A lot of times the voters cast their votes strictly on what the judges say.
@knightrider makes a good observation in pointing out that they call the winner of SYTYCD "America's Favorite Dancer" and not "America's Best Dancer." The question is, is it "America's Favorite Dancer" or "The Producers' Favorite Dancer That They've Cajoled America Into Voting For"?
"Then as you pointed out, Melissa and Ade got the Pas de Deux, and Melissa is the only ballet dance in the top 20."
Damn non-editable comments!
But the choreography manipulation has got to stop. As soon as this becomes a show to showcase choreographers it's going to start circling the toilet. Especially because they don't have the technical crew to do good choreographers justice anyways.
I have no illusion about SYTYCD. It is what it is, a TV dance show created to make money. I enjoy it and know the structure is set up to make sure a well rounded dance troop is ready for tour. Philip will do well on tour that is why they made a special addition to the top ten. But, despite all the manipulation and politics the show has been really good for the dance community. For that I can overlook the pretend competition aspect and just enjoy the dancing.
TV has never been real. There is no such thing as reality TV.
This season has bothered me most by the advertising of the next season already. It's like this current group doesn't count- they're unimportant, because "hey- we're auditioning for next season and they're amazing!" Give this group their time to shine...
I think your blog was, unfortunately, spot on. We’ve no discernible dance skills, but even my partner and I could see that undue praise was being lavished on Phillip, which I felt was not so discreetly related to promoting the Dizzy Feet Foundation that Lythgoe and others are spearheading. Phillip’s last speech, which sounded well rehearsed—though still quite heartfelt (I’m not that jaded)—was a rallying cry to the “underserved” (their word) children who lack the finances to pursue dance, an audience that this foundation plans to include in its mission (check the blog announcement on the FOX Web site).
I think this is a wonderful aim for the foundation and would enjoy seeing Phillip continue to pursue a career in dance with the now-added benefit of professional training, but what a slap in the face to the others. (Just call it the “Top 12” then, um-kay?) In truth, I really liked Phillip with his Alfred E. Neuman ears and sweet disposition; I was rooting for him from the first, but (sigh) it isn’t fair, is it? Or as Mary Murphy might say: “No, it’s NOT! Ha, ha, ha, ha.”
BTW, I agree with most of you--I can't believe Vitolio is gone, can't believe Kupono and Philip have stayed, and while I'm on that subject, I still can't believe they didn't keep Natalie (the redhead that was Katee's roommate last year).
Brandon and Jeanette are my faves this year, hands down. They make the hair on my arms stand up. Can't wait to see what happens with new partners each week.
Denese
You all have discussed Philip and the other male contestants enough. What about the females (or girls, as Cat likes to say)? I just don't "get" the obsession with Kayla. Yeah, she's attractive. Yeah, she lifts her leg well. Yeah, she is blond (I guess she is). But let's face it, Caitlin is a much better dancer than Kayla is. And so are most of the other contenders. But Kayla, like Philip did, seems untouchable. They never even give her constructive dance criticism.
Look at all the crap that AI had a few years ago with we couldn't get through to vote. Rigged? Control the phone banks and you control the out comes. Yes they may be controlling the vote with judges comments, but it doesn't matter how you do it you still getting a preselected outcome.